Plate And Cup Assembly

ABSTRACT

A plate and cup assembly for attaching a cup to a plate includes a food plate that has an opening extending through the food plate. A cup is provided and the cup is insertable upwardly through the opening in the food plate. A lid is insertable into the opening in the food plate and the lid releasably engages the cup when the cup is inserted upwardly through the opening for retaining the cup on the food plate. The lid has a straw opening extending through the lid to facilitate a drinking straw to be extended through the straw opening and into the cup for drinking the beverage contained in the cup when the cup is retained on the food plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to plate and cup devices and more particularly pertains to a new plate and cup device for attaching a cup to a plate. The device includes a food plate with an opening extending through the food plate and a cup that is insertable through the opening in the food plate. Additionally, a lid is provided that releasably engages the cup for retaining the cup on the food plate. The lid has a straw opening extending through the lid to facilitate a drinking straw to be inserted into the cup for drinking a beverage in the cup.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to plate and cup devices including a food plate with an opening extending through the food plate and a cup that is insertable downwardly through the opening. The cup flares outwardly such that an upper threshold of the cup has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the opening to inhibit the cup from falling downwardly through the opening. The prior art discloses a food plate that has an opening extending through the food plate and a curved wall that surrounds the opening. A beverage bottle can be inserted upwardly through the opening and the curved wall conforms to a shoulder of the beverage bottle for inhibiting the beverage bottle from passing upwardly through the opening. The prior art discloses a food plate with a cup opening that is offset from a center of the food plate for insertably receiving a cup. The prior art discloses a food plate with an opening extending through the food plate and a cup upon which the food plate can be positioned such that the cup is aligned with the opening in the food plate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a food plate that has an opening extending through the food plate. A cup is provided and the cup is insertable upwardly through the opening in the food plate. A lid is insertable into the opening in the food plate and the lid releasably engages the cup when the cup is inserted upwardly through the opening for retaining the cup on the food plate. The lid has a straw opening extending through the lid to facilitate a drinking straw to be extended through the straw opening and into the cup for drinking the beverage contained in the cup when the cup is retained on the food plate.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a plate and cup assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new plate and cup device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 , the plate and cup assembly 10 generally comprises a food plate 12 that can have food 14 positioned on the food plate 12. Additionally, the food plate 12 has an opening 16 extending through the food plate 12. The food plate 12 has a basal wall 18 and a first perimeter wall 20 extending upwardly from a perimeter of the basal wall 18 to inhibit the food 14 from falling off of the food plate 12. The food plate 12 has a second perimeter wall 22 extending upwardly from the basal wall 18. The opening 16 extends through the basal wall 18, the opening 16 is centrally positioned on the basal wall 18 and the second perimeter wall 22 surrounds the opening 16. Moreover, the second perimeter wall 22 has a height that is less than the height of the first perimeter wall 20, and the first perimeter wall 20 angles outwardly from the perimeter of the basal wall 18.

A cup 24 is provided for containing a beverage 26 and the cup 24 is insertable upwardly through the opening 16 in the food plate 12. The cup 24 has an outer wall 28 and the outer wall 28 has an inside surface 30, an outside surface 32 and a top edge 34. The outside surface 32 has a lip 36 extending outwardly from the outside surface 32. The lip 36 extends around a full circumference of the outer wall 28 and the lip 36 is spaced from the top edge 34. Moreover, the lip 36 abuts a bottom surface 38 of the basal wall 18 of the food plate 12 when the outer wall 28 of the cup 24 is inserted upwardly through the opening 16 in the food plate 12. The inside surface 30 of the outer wall 28 has a threaded portion 40 that is positioned adjacent to the top edge 34 of the outer wall 28. Additionally, a handle 42 is disposed on the outside surface 32 of the outer wall 28 for carrying the cup 24.

A lid 44 is provided and the lid 44 is insertable into the opening 16 in the food plate 12. The lid 44 releasably engages the cup 24 when the cup 24 is inserted upwardly through the opening 16 for retaining the cup 24 on the food plate 12. The lid 44 has a straw opening 46 extending through the lid 44 to facilitate a drinking straw 48 to be extended through the straw opening 46 and into the cup 24. In that way the beverage contained in the cup 24 can be drank when the cup 24 is retained on the food plate 12.

The lid 44 has a top wall 50 and an exterior wall 52 extending downwardly from the top wall 50, and the exterior wall 52 is continuously arcuate about the top wall 50 such that the lid 44 has a cylindrical shape. The exterior wall 52 has an angled portion 54 which angles outwardly from the top wall 50 such that the lid 44 has a conical shape. The exterior wall 52 has a vertical portion 56 extending downwardly from the angled portion 54. The vertical portion 56 has an outside surface 58 and the outside surface 58 is threaded.

The exterior wall 52 has a lip 60 extends outwardly from an intersection between the angled portion 54 and the vertical portion 56. Furthermore, the lip 60 on the exterior wall 52 rests on an upper edge 62 of the second perimeter wall 22 when the lid 44 is inserted into the opening 16 in the food plate 12. The outside surface 58 of the vertical portion 56 threadably engages the threaded portion 40 of the inside surface 30 of the outer wall 28 of the cup 24 for retaining the cup 24 on the food plate 12. The straw opening 46 extends through the top wall 50 and the straw opening 46 is offset from a center of the top wall 50.

A closure 64 is provided and the closure 64 is hingedly coupled to the lid 44. The closure 64 is positionable in a closed position for closing the straw opening 46 in the lid 44. Conversely, the closure 64 is positionable in an open position for exposing the straw opening 46. The closure 64 has a first end 66 and a second end 68, and the first end 66 is pivotally coupled to the top wall 50 of the lid 44. The closure 64 has a knob 70 extending downwardly from the closure 64 and the knob 70 is positioned closer to the second end 68 than the first end 66. The knob 70 extends into the straw opening 46 when the closure 64 is in the closed position, and the knob 70 is removed from the straw opening 46 when the closure 64 in the open position.

In use, the cup 24 is inserted upwardly through the opening 16 in the food plate 12 and the lid 44 is threaded onto the cup 24. In this way the cup 24 is attached to the food plate 12. The closure 64 is opened and the drinking straw 48 can be inserted into the cup 24. In this way the food 14 on the food plate 12 can be eaten and the beverage 26 in the cup 24 can be drunk. Moreover, the food plate 12 and the cup 24 can be carried simultaneously when the cup 24 is attached to the food plate 12. The cup 24 can be removed from the food plate 12 at any time for drinking the beverage 26 from the cup 24 independently from the food plate 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A plate and cup assembly for facilitating food and a beverage to be carried together, said assembly comprising: a food plate being configured to have food positioned on said food plate, said food plate having an opening extending through said food plate; a cup being configured to contain a beverage, said cup being insertable upwardly through said opening in said food plate; a lid being insertable into said opening in said food plate, said lid releasably engaging said cup when said cup is inserted upwardly through said opening for retaining said cup on said food plate, said lid having a straw opening extending through said lid wherein said straw opening is configured to facilitate a drinking straw to be extended through said straw opening and into said cup for drinking the beverage contained in said cup when said cup is retained on said food plate; and a closure being hingedly coupled to said lid, said closure being positionable in a closed position for closing said straw opening in said lid, said closure being positionable in an open position for exposing said straw opening.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said food plate has a basal wall and a first perimeter wall extending upwardly from a perimeter of said basal wall wherein said first perimeter wall is configured to inhibit the food from falling off of said food plate, said food plate having a second perimeter wall extending upwardly from said basal wall, said opening extending through said basal wall, said opening being centrally positioned on said basal wall, said second perimeter wall surrounding said opening, said second perimeter wall having a height being less than the height of said first perimeter wall, said first perimeter wall angling outwardly from said perimeter of said basal wall.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cup has an outer wall, said outer wall having an inside surface, an outside surface and a top edge, said outside surface having a lip extending outwardly from said outside surface, said lip extending around a full circumference of said outer wall, said lip being spaced from said top edge, said lip abutting a bottom surface of said basal wall of said food plate when said outer wall of said cup is inserted upwardly through said opening in said food plate, said inside surface of said outer wall having a threaded portion being positioned adjacent to said top edge of said outer wall, said cup having a handle being disposed on said outside surface of said outer wall for carrying said cup.
 4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lid has a top wall and an exterior wall extending downwardly from said top wall, said exterior wall being continuously arcuate about said top wall such that said lid has a cylindrical shape, said exterior wall having an angled portion angling outwardly from said top wall such that said lid has a conical shape, said exterior wall having a vertical portion extending downwardly from said angled portion, said vertical portion having an outside surface, said outside surface being threaded, said exterior wall having a lip extending outwardly from an intersection between said angled portion and said vertical portion.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said food plate has a basal wall and a first perimeter wall extending upwardly from a perimeter of said basal wall wherein said first perimeter wall is configured to inhibit the food from falling off of said food plate, said food plate having a second perimeter wall extending upwardly from said basal wall; said cup has an outer wall, said outer wall having an inside surface and a top edge, said inside surface of said outer wall having a threaded portion being positioned adjacent to said top edge of said outer wall; and said lip on said exterior wall of said lid rests on an upper edge of said second perimeter wall when said lid is inserted into said opening in said food plate, said outside surface of said exterior wall of said lid threadably engaging said threaded portion of said inside surface of said outer wall of said cup for retaining said cup on said food plate, said straw opening extending through said top wall of said lid, said straw opening being offset from a center of said top wall.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said closure has a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally coupled to said top wall of said lid, said closure having a knob extending downwardly from said closure, said knob being positioned closer to said second end than said first end, said knob extending into said straw opening when said closure is in said closed position, said knob being removed from said straw opening when said closure in said open position.
 7. A plate and cup assembly for facilitating food and a beverage to be carried together, said assembly comprising: a food plate being configured to have food positioned on said food plate, said food plate having an opening extending through said food plate, said food plate having a basal wall and a first perimeter wall extending upwardly from a perimeter of said basal wall wherein said first perimeter wall is configured to inhibit the food from falling off of said food plate, said food plate having a second perimeter wall extending upwardly from said basal wall, said opening extending through said basal wall, said opening being centrally positioned on said basal wall, said second perimeter wall surrounding said opening, said second perimeter wall having a height being less than the height of said first perimeter wall, said first perimeter wall angling outwardly from said perimeter of said basal wall; a cup being configured to contain a beverage, said cup being insertable upwardly through said opening in said food plate, said cup having an outer wall, said outer wall having an inside surface, an outside surface and a top edge, said outside surface having a lip extending outwardly from said outside surface, said lip extending around a full circumference of said outer wall, said lip being spaced from said top edge, said lip abutting a bottom surface of said basal wall of said food plate when said outer wall of said cup is inserted upwardly through said opening in said food plate, said inside surface of said outer wall having a threaded portion being positioned adjacent to said top edge of said outer wall, said cup having a handle being disposed on said outside surface of said outer wall for carrying said cup; a lid being insertable into said opening in said food plate, said lid releasably engaging said cup when said cup is inserted upwardly through said opening for retaining said cup on said food plate, said lid having a straw opening extending through said lid wherein said straw opening is configured to facilitate a drinking straw to be extended through said straw opening and into said cup for drinking the beverage contained in said cup when said cup is retained on said food plate, said lid having a top wall and an exterior wall extending downwardly from said top wall, said exterior wall being continuously arcuate about said top wall such that said lid has a cylindrical shape, said exterior wall having an angled portion angling outwardly from said top wall such that said lid has a conical shape, said exterior wall having a vertical portion extending downwardly from said angled portion, said vertical portion having an outside surface, said outside surface being threaded, said exterior wall having a lip extending outwardly from an intersection between said angled portion and said vertical portion, said lip on said exterior wall resting on an upper edge of said second perimeter wall when said lid is inserted into said opening in said food plate, said outside surface threadably engaging said threaded portion of said inside surface of said outer wall of said cup for retaining said cup on said food plate, said straw opening extending through said top wall, said straw opening being offset from a center of said top wall; and a closure being hingedly coupled to said lid, said closure being positionable in a closed position for closing said straw opening in said lid, said closure being positionable in an open position for exposing said straw opening, said closure having a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally coupled to said top wall of said lid, said closure having a knob extending downwardly from said closure, said knob being positioned closer to said second end than said first end, said knob extending into said straw opening when said closure is in said closed position, said knob being removed from said straw opening when said closure in said open position. 